The History of Mississauga’s Jack Darling Memorial Park

We recently received an inquiry about the name origin of Jack Darling Memorial Park, and with the thought that people do not choose to name things after things they want to be forgotten, we though we would share a bit of the history here. After all, the park today (at least in warmer months) is a beloved and much-used recreational area in our city, but the person behind the name (or even the original name) for the park are not well known today.

Historically, the park is located on part of Lot 23, Concession 3, SDS (South of Dundas Street). The property was acquired by Joseph Thompson in 1888, who registered subdivision plan A-88 on the property. The plan laid out several streets (Alice Road, West Drive, Oakland Avenue, Hill Road, Cedar Vale, and The Terrance) which do not remain on the landscape today. It is unclear how much of Plan A-88 was actually built. The property, much of which was referenced as a marsh, was an informal park in the 1950s, although possibly used as such much earlier. In 1964 we find it informally referred to as Shoreline Park. In 1966, 88 acres of Plan A-88, including what would become the park, was acquired by the Ontario Water Resources Commission for the development of a water treatment plant and pumping station. At that time, Ward 2 Councillor Lou Parsons advocated for a formally established park and targeted 60 acres of the 88 acres acquired by the OWRC. Shoreline Park officially came to be in 1968.

So where does the Jack Darling name come from?

James John “Jack” Darling (1921-1969) was an a very active community resident. Originally from St. Catharines, he was a veteran of the Second World War, and his professional career brought him to Toronto Township (Mississauga) in 1950. Jack, along with his wife Margaret and their three children, lived on Parkland Avenue, which is adjacent to the park which would come to bare his name. Jack was instrumental in the establishment of Sheridan Research Park in 1965 (incidentally, the atomic symbol that appears in Mississauga’s official coat-of-arms takes its inspiration from Sheridan Research Park, so we can, in broad strokes, link the atomic symbol in our coat-of-arms back to the efforts of Jack Darling).

Jack helped to establish one of the first ratepayer’s associations in Mississauga and served as president in 1956. In addition to his professional career at the Ontario Research Foundation, he also volunteered with the Committee of Adjustment, the Mississauga Centennial Committee, served as President of the Mississauga Hockey League, and as President of the Mississauga Industrial Association. Jack was well respected for his compassion, humanity and dedication to his community.

Jack passed away in January of 1969 at the young age of 47, leaving behind his wife, three children, and numerous residents and leaders who lauded his efforts at community building.

In 1971 Shoreline Park was formally renamed Jack Darling Memorial Park in his memory.